New World Cities, Then and Now

We'll always have Paris. And New York and Rome. But there's a new crop of cities coming up the world over, and most of them aren't so subtle about their rise to the top.

Dubai, UAE

Then: a port city central to the pearling and fishing industries, but without much modernity until the discovery of oil in 1966.

Dubai

Now: a major metropolis that's home to some major wealth. Ultra-modern buildings like the Burj Al Arab hotel and Cayan Tower (pictured), and the Burj Khalifa—the tallest building in the world—make for a magnificent skyline.

Jakarta, Indonesia

Then: the new capital of the new republic, struggling with post-colonialism and increasing poverty.

Jakarta

Now: the most populous city in Southeast Asia and one of the fastest-growing on Earth, with more than 10 million inhabitants (and some snazzy new buildings to put them in).

Manila, the Philippines

Then: second only to Warsaw in the amount of damage incurred by World War II bombings, and in only its sixth year of independence.

Manila

Manama, Bahrain

Then: another poor port city passed around from ruler to ruler (first the Portuguese, then the Persians, and finally the House of Khalifa).

Manama, Bahrain

Now: the ever-growing capital of Bahrain, with a booming banking and oil industry, a world trade center, and a financial harbor to boot.

Dakar, Senegel

Then: a Dutch-, then French-colonized island that wouldn't see independence until 1960.

Dakar, Senegal

Now: 19 packed arrondisements chock full of great food, music, and culture.

Singapore

Then: a kampong under British colonial rule with three miles of wharves, a naval base, and a growing port economy, all of which was surrendered to the Japanese during World War II.

Singapore

Now: an exercise in excess—Forbes reports that one in 20 Singaporeans will be millionaires by 2017, and it shows in the city's financial district, glitzy shopping malls and casino, and beautiful architecture (such as the ArtScience museum, pictured).

Abu Dhabi, UAE

Then: a country that just discovered its own oil (and we know what that means).

Abu Dhabi

Now: Just 60 miles north of Dubai, the capital of United Arab Emirates is spending its massive wealth on becoming a top tourist attraction. And considering the world's only extension of The Louvre is opening there... we think it's doing a decent job.